Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 12311–12320

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer and labor certification

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making further analysis purposeless.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making further analysis purposeless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-12-01_01_B5203; source_row=26694
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making further analysis purposeless.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making further analysis purposeless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-12-01_01_B5203; source_row=26693
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFaculty

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO affirmed that the Petitioner met this criterion, consistent with the Director's finding, and the criterion was not contested on motion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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The AAO affirmed that the Petitioner met this criterion, consistent with the Director's finding, and the criterion was not contested on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-12-01_02_B2203; source_row=26696
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFaculty

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO reversed the Director's conclusion on appeal and determined that the Petitioner did in fact meet the criterion for display at artistic exhibitions or showcases. This was not contested on motion.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The AAO reversed the Director's conclusion on appeal and determined that the Petitioner did in fact meet the criterion for display at artistic exhibitions or showcases. This was not contested on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-12-01_02_B2203; source_row=26697
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-Time Major Internationally Recognized Award

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the award was given to the team as a whole rather than to the Petitioner individually, and further found that even if it had been granted to him, the Petitioner failed to establish that it is a major, internationally recognized award of the caliber contemplated by the statute.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the award was given to the team as a whole rather than to the Petitioner individually, and further found that even if it had been granted to him, the Petitioner failed to establish that it is a major, internationally recognized award of the caliber contemplated by the statute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_05_B2203; source_row=26682
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that contradictory evidence—including web articles identifying a different individual as the MCHEC leader and not mentioning the Petitioner's role—undermined her claim to a leading role with the MCHEC.…

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that contradictory evidence—including web articles identifying a different individual as the MCHEC leader and not mentioning the Petitioner's role—undermined her claim to a leading role with the MCHEC. As for the School, the registration certificate listed only another person as legal representative, a brochure identified the Petitioner as faculty rather than principal, and a newspaper article was inconsistent with her claimed role since 2007. The School's distinguished reputation was also not established due to discrepancies in the award certificates and insufficient information about the awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_03_B2203; source_row=26674
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical2 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner's research showed novelty and was published in reputable journals, the citations were low, expert letters were largely conclusory and hyperbolic, and the evidence did not demonstrate that her contributions had been widely implemented, substantially influenced the field, or otherwise risen to the level of major significance.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO found that while the Petitioner's research showed novelty and was published in reputable journals, the citations were low, expert letters were largely conclusory and hyperbolic, and the evidence did not demonstrate that her contributions had been widely implemented, substantially influenced the field, or otherwise risen to the level of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_04_B2203; source_row=26678
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical2 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding that this criterion was met. The peer review invitation emails did not demonstrate actual completion of reviews, and teaching/evaluating medical students does not constitute judging the work of others in the petitioner's field or an allied field.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding that this criterion was met. The peer review invitation emails did not demonstrate actual completion of reviews, and teaching/evaluating medical students does not constitute judging the work of others in the petitioner's field or an allied field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_04_B2203; source_row=26677
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

PhysicsPostdoctoral Researcher

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was satisfied. AAO noted that the Director failed to weigh related evidence in the final merits discussion, but did not disturb the Step 1 finding.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was satisfied. AAO noted that the Director failed to weigh related evidence in the final merits discussion, but did not disturb the Step 1 finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_01_B2203; source_row=26659
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

PhysicsPostdoctoral Researcher

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was satisfied. AAO noted the Director improperly excluded non-first-author publications and compared citation record only to senior referee professors, but did not disturb the Step 1 finding.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was satisfied. AAO noted the Director improperly excluded non-first-author publications and compared citation record only to senior referee professors, but did not disturb the Step 1 finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-11-30_01_B2203; source_row=26660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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